Production process for hydroxyalkyl ester

Abstract

In a production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester, comprising the step of carrying out a reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alkylene in the presence of a catalyst, the present invention is to provide: a production process which can stop the reaction economically and sufficiently safely. In a production process which comprises the step of carrying out the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alkylene in a reactor 1 in the presence of a catalyst so as to produce a hydroxyalkyl ester, the reaction is stopped by introducing a reaction terminating liquid 21 into the reactor 1 , wherein the reaction terminating liquid comprises water in a ratio of not less than 50 weight %, and has a low temperature of −5 to 45° C.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester, which comprises the steps of: 
       a) providing a reactor and a liquid storing tank, wherein the liquid storing tank includes a reaction terminating liquid at a temperature of −5 to 45° C.;  
       b) further providing an equalizer line and a liquid-introducing pipe between the reactor and the liquid storing tank, wherein the equalizer line keeps pressure uniform between the reactor and the liquid storing tank, and wherein the liquid-introducing pipe permits the reaction terminating liquid to be introduced into the reactor from the liquid storing tank;  
       c) arranging the liquid storing tank upwardly of the reactor such that the reaction terminating liquid is flowable by gravity from the liquid storing tank to the reactor;  
       d) carrying out a reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alkylene oxide in the reactor in the presence of a catalyst in order to produce the hydroxyalkyl ester; and  
       e) stopping the reaction by introducing the reaction terminating liquid into the reactor, wherein the reaction terminating liquid comprises water in a ratio of not less than 50 weight %, and has a low temperature of −5 to 45° C., and wherein an amount of the reaction terminating liquid as introduced is in the range of 5 to 200 weight % of a reaction liquid of the reaction;  
       f) whereby an exothermic reaction is stopped by reliance on gravity and a dropping from the liquid storing tank through the liquid-introducing pipe and into the reactor of the reaction terminating liquid comprising water as soon as cause arises.  
     
     
       2. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the reaction terminating liquid as introduced is in the range of 20 to 50 weight % of a reaction liquid of the reaction. 
     
     
       3. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaction terminating liquid is introduced into the reactor under a condition that the temperature of the reaction liquid of the reaction is not higher than 150° C. 
     
     
       4. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 2 , wherein the reaction terminating liquid is introduced into the reactor under a condition that the temperature of the reaction liquid of the reaction is not higher than 150° C. 
     
     
       5. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid includes (meth)acrylic acid. 
     
     
       6. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 2 , wherein the carboxylic acid includes (meth)acrylic acid. 
     
     
       7. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 3 , wherein the carboxylic acid includes (meth)acrylic acid. 
     
     
       8. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 4 , wherein the carboxylic acid includes (meth)acrylic acid. 
     
     
       9. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the reaction terminating liquid as introduced is in the range of 10 to 100 weight % of a reaction liquid of the reaction. 
     
     
       10. A production process for a hydroxyalkyl ester according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the reaction terminating liquid as introduced is a) an amount sufficient to stop an extraordinary, accelerating and exothermic reaction and b) no more than 200 weight % of a reaction liquid of the reaction.